DayDreaming

As this New York trip gets closer and closer, it suddenly becomes harder and harder to focus about anything but NY. I find myself daydreaming during class, thinking about the famous bright lights which light up the NY skyline. Visiting these agencies is something I cannot wait for, being able to observe the culture, and pick the brains of some of the brightest minds in the ad world is an opportunity many can only dream of. Aside from the agency visits we get the chance to explore THE CITY, there is so much to try and do and see in a week that i don’t plan on sleeping much if at all. I’m usually the kind of person who likes to do things on the fly, rather than sticking to a schedule but there is so much to do that I’m creating a list of must-do’s before leaving NY (which i’ll post later). Until my flight lands Saturday dreaming of those bright city lights will have to suffice. 

–

Justice McCree

We were bound to the city life.

Oh, New York City. It’s a feeling; an utmost overwhelming sensation that is bound to spread chills through our bones like wildfire upon our arrival. I’ve luckily traveled to this wondrous place a handful of times, and from my first visit at the age of 8, I was amazed. I didn’t even realize how unbelievably epic it was at the time. I came to learn that New York is a mecca for culture, and for possibility. It is a place that refuses to dull its shine, and definitely never sleeps. I’m looking forward to walking the streets and observing and appreciating the people around me. People who have come from all walks of life, and call this city their home. I’m so excited for us all.

Alyssa Blackman.

Try to get bored, I dare you.

Try to get bored, I dare you. New York City is the only place in the world where the word ‘boredom’ is derived from a dead language. Everywhere you look your eye catches on the corners of glimmering buildings and the worn edges of statues.

In New York City art lives within everything. It beats like a heart, pumping life into the city. It pulses with an unapologetic individualism, daring you to think in ways you once thought impossible. Everywhere you look there is something new. It is not a place for passive observance, but a site for those hungry for deeper meaning. Perhaps it is the reflective surfaces of the skyscrapers that allow the city to perform like a spyglass, revealing its wealth of human truths. The artwork of the city, from the masterpieces that line the MOMA’s walls, to the graffiti sprayed against weathered brick, tells a story. Your time in New York City is limited. Do not take these glimpses for granted. Absorb all you can.

-Madaline Myers

Empire State of Mind

What can I expect? Going to a city I’ve heard countless stories of, but has yet to step foot in the Big Apple. I know it will be fast paced, so you bet I’ll be wearing comfortable shoes. I know it will be hectic, will I be able to handle the transition? I know it will be expensive, so I’ll have to spend my money wisely. Yet more importantly, I know it will be one of the most unique opportunities I have come across to date. In a city full of dreams, how will you make the most out of it?

Tim Farah

The Great Escape

As I look out at the beautiful skies of Eugene, I can’t help but think, “why the f**k is it May and the sky is still cloudy?”  I love this town but I can’t wait to hop on a plane and escape to a destination that holds a fresh sense of wonder, curiosity, and creativity.  The preparation for this trip has been filled with anxiety, but slaving away on the adobe creative suite has never felt so meaningful.  I am so grateful for the invitation to travel with so many amazing and talented individuals and I look forward to making this experience one of my most prominent and positive college memories!  

Let’s get it!

-Spencer Phillipson

Closer & Closer

As the trip becomes closer and closer, I get more and more anxious. I have only been to NYC once and it was ten years ago. I am anxious to learn about the city, the culture, and of course the agencies. I am truly blessed and honored to be able to travel with 100 of my peers and faculty. This is a great opportunity to network and learn about agency dynamics while being in one of the best cities in the world. I know we are there for business but outside of the agency visits, there are a lot of things I look forward to doing. I really want to attend a Yankees game, visit a famous shoe store called “Flight School”, attend a underground comedy show and best believe I’m bringing my basketball shoes so I can run a game or two at Rucker Park. Truly can’t wait for this trip! 

Two up, 

Zach Cross 

“The City”

Having grown up in the Bay Area, “the city” and “my city” have always referred to San Francisco. A trip to San Francisco automatically entails an all day event packed with walking, shopping, and way too much eating. And while the city is full of excitement, it’s also crowded, fast-paced and confusing. That being said, no matter your level of experience, here are some suggested steps of preparation: 

• Get a good night’s sleep for an early morning start 

• Analyze the day’s weather forecast to dress accordingly 

• Wear good walking shoes and bring a rain jacket 

• Look up BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) stops and time intervals 

• Have a safe and secure place to hold money 

As we prepare to head to New York City, I have found comfort in hearing similar steps of preparation from those who have been before. I have high hopes that experiences in my city have trained me for what’s to come. 

Twenty-one years later, it’s come time to redefine “the city” and move on to bigger and brighter places. I’m stoked and ready. Bring it on, New York City. 

Natalie Wapniarski 

5.2.17

As I procrastinate packing by writing this blog post, I feel the familiar sense of panic and traveler’s anxiety that accompanies three flight connections and a cab ride. From the very application this trip has been one of the most exciting opportunities I’ve ever had, but it has also given me at least three new ulcers and a whole new appreciation for caffeine. If you’ve had traveler’s anxiety before, you know that it doesn’t mix well with caffeine and stomach pain-and long flights ensure close quarters are never in short supply. To help me (and you as well, if you have to sit next to me) relax, I’ve put together 5 songs to ease the pain.

Sit back, relax, and enjoy some audio Xanax.

1)   Simple Song-The Shins https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GyAJ4V06izg

2)   Sedona-Houndmouth https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_XuAm3svfhU

3)   Sea Birds-Burning Hearts https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJVYNu9-QVQ

4)   Heavenly Father-Isaiah Rashad https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zfsv2JXtlr0

5)   Great Divide- The Cardigans https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iaUZZbWEsJc

Caden Bohn

#cadenbohn #uonycreativeweek

Tweet King

Recently I’ve been feeling a little insecure about my tweet game, I find myself constantly favoriting and retweeting my favorite Twitter accounts but I never post content of my own. I’ve come to the conclusion that I will never be a Kim Uong or a Sarah Sharp and that’s okay, Twitter is just not my medium. But just because it’s not a platform that I’m comfortable with, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t engage with it. I’ve been noticing there has been a rise of brand personalities on Twitter. Wendy’s has a hilarious account and we can all agree that the zoom in zoom out on the pancake tweet from Denny’s was unreal. But one of my favorite accounts is RGA and I decided to investigate who is the man or woman behind the screen making this account come to life. If you haven’t followed the account do it NOW, here of some of my favorite tweets in the last couple of days. 

And now, here is my email interview with Chapin Clark.

1. What is your position in RGA?
I am EVP, ECD, at R/GA.

2. How did you become assigned to run the RGA Twitter account? How long have you been running the account?
I took over the R/GA Twitter account from our corporate communications (PR) department in 2008 or 2009. At the time, I don’t think they knew what to do with it. I’m a writer, and I was already tweeting for myself. I had been at R/GA seven years or so at that point, so I knew the company and its culture. I guess they thought I wouldn’t mess it up too badly.

3. Have you seen a change in your tweets from when you first got a hold of the account?
Well, initially I didn’t know what to do with it, either. I knew it wouldn’t be right to tweet as if it were solely for myself. But I wasn’t interested in managing something blandly corporate, either. I ended up with a hybrid: observations on advertising, business, and culture through a first-person-singular voice. There was a lot of trial and error early on. I’d do things like live-tweet Sir Martin Sorrell on Charlie Rose. I had no idea what people would think was interesting. I’m not sure I do even now. One big difference is I used to link to a lot of things – news articles, blog posts, etc. – that other people were linking to, as well. I don’t do that nearly as much anymore. If you’re not at least trying to say something original, your stuff tends to get lost. (And even if you are trying, it often gets lost.)

4. How do you separate work from play? Do you sometimes make the account too personal?
The line between work and play, or the R/GA account and my personal account, is a blurry one. Really, tweeting for R/GA isn’t work, it’s fun. If it felt like work, I wouldn’t be doing it. I’ll make jokes about stuff on @rga and make earnest statements on @chapinc. There are lots of things I post that could go in either place. But in general, if it’s about anything even tangentially related to the work we do at R/GA, I’ll put it there. If it’s obscene, or political but not related to the communications work of politics, or personal in a way that makes me sound like a cranky, irrational old man, I’ll tweet it from @chapinc. But there have definitely been times when I’ve tweeted things from @rga and thought, OK I’m being too self-indulgent, I’m forgetting the audience and I need to shift.

5. Do you think all brands should have space for personality on social media?
I don’t think every brand should have a capital V Voice on social media, in the sense of, like, a big personality. Just as some people aren’t funny, some brands aren’t meant to be funny, or wildly entertaining. But I do think every brand has a purpose in social media. The voice should be informed both by what the audience wants from the brand and what is believable coming from the brand. Remember how weird it was when the CIA launched its Twitter account with this quippy millennial-social voice?

6. What has been the most rewarding by being the person behind the RGA Twitter account?
The most rewarding aspect of being on Twitter as @rga has been the opportunity it has given me to meet and make friends with interesting people I probably never would have met otherwise.

7. Do you have a Twitter account that you follow that you love, if so who!
A thing I love about Twitter is I’m always stumbling across great people. A few accounts I’ve been enjoying of late are @bobvulfov, @carinahsieh, @ziwe.

8. Any last thoughts?
Nope!

Hopefully I can get a chance to sit and meet with him in New York, that’s one of my goals for the trip. Hope you all enjoyed!

-Tylynn Linea Burns

Ready.

Birds may fly South for winter, but it’s about to become quite clear that Ducks are a unique breed. Ducks, unlike other birds, actually fly East for spring. Well, at least 100 or so do. It is an honor to be one of the Ducks that gets a chance to go to New York next week. It is an honor to be a part of a program with the vast reach that the UO SOJC has.

I believe I can safely speak on behalf of my fellow students and say that we are feeling excited and a little nervous, but most of all, ready. Ready for big opportunities. Ready for new avenues. Ready to flock to the far reaches of the world and make an impact. No matter one’s nerves, there’s no denying that what this next week will bring is excitement. We are ready for any challenges. We are ready for all the networking, handshakes, and rapid-absorption of information about to take place.

Don’t underestimate our passion and energy. Or do, and just be prepared to be amazed. We are ready. We are Ducks.

Originally posted by maybelline